As I'm leaving...
A change comes on my eyes
These streets persuading me
With mumbles strange goodbyes
-Lyrics to 'As I'm Leaving' performed by David Gray

Crimson Bonds Part 17

Anna glared into the blue-and-gold eyes that matched her own as she growled under her breath, "What?"

Folding his arms across his chest, Charles held firm in his position as he replied back flatly, "I'm going with you and Uncle Duo on the hunt. It's about time I had experience in the field so that I can become a Preventer, too. Between you and Dad, I've had plenty of training over the years and I've been waiting for this chance."

He gestured to his elder Ingested, adding, "Besides, I know that the packs sent out can never number more than five agents, so there is plenty of room for me. Who knows when the pieces will work out right for this again."

"Under no uncertain circumstances are you coming along, Charles!" his mother exclaimed. "Your father and I only trained you and your siblings in self defense in case you should ever needed it, not to go on the offensive against a blood-thirsty Vampire! You have no idea how dangerous our own kind can be when all they want is to kill and to gain power!"

Duo stepped up beside his sister with an uncomfortable expression at being in the middle of the argument, but he still suggested to his nephew, "I get the fact that you want to help, believe me. But your Mom is right, Charles. There are a lot of things that could go wrong that could get you hurt or worse out there. If I wasn't a Hybrid, I would have been way out of my league when I insisted on becoming a Preventer."

His blue-and-gold eyes narrowing, the young Infected huffed, "Then how in the hell am I ever going to protect myself if I am under attack without some real exposure to my own kind?"

Losing his frustration, he lowered his arms and neared the Siren as he frowned deeply, "Please, Mom. You know I'm fast. And strong. I promise that I wouldn't be in your way. You told Dad that this was going to be an easy mission, so this would be a great opportunity for me to see what I've been sheltered from."

That one word, 'sheltered,' rang through Anna's mind and had her recoiling a couple of steps with a sharp gasp. The very last thing that she had ever wanted was for her children to feel as though they were being harbored... even though that was exactly what she and Wufei had done all of their existences for their safety.

"C-Charles, I-I," the Irish Vampire stammered, eyes wide and skin even more pale than its usual hue. Shaking her head, she struggled to find the words to say as her braided brother rested a hand on her shoulder.

A familiar voice said softly, "He's right, love."

To the enlarged eyes spinning to look on him, Chang pushed himself from the doorpost that he had been leaning against. A thoughtful look on his scaly face, he approached his wife as he commented, "We can't protect our little ones from everything. Just what is happening in the Senate now is proof enough of that."

Swallowing roughly, Maxwell saw the logic of that and nodded. He backed a couple of paces from the scene in a wordless declaration that whatever his brother and sister decided he would support to the fullest. In the end, it really was their call what happened with their son.

A sad grin curling his lips, Wufei enfolded his distraught Chosen in his arms and kissed her brow. "Charles always was one of the best in our training, so I am sure he will be more than capable of holding his own to observe you and Duo," he stated.

When his partner continued to stare at the floor, he gently took hold of her chin to lift it so that their gazes locked. Taking a deep breath, the scaly Infected shrugged, "At some point, we have to learn to let go and give our kids room to grow up."

Charles swallowed roughly, reserving his excitement out of respect and understanding for his mother's concern. Bowing his head, he mouthed a 'thank you' to his father... both for his support as well as for the compliment to his abilities.

The Siren chewed on her bottom lip for a moment and finally gave up the fight, her shoulders sagging heavily. "Alright," she sighed deeply. Fixing her eldest child with a sternness in her stare, she stalked towards her son, warning, "But you are going to listen to me and your Uncle Duo, following our instructions to the letter. So help me, the moment you become a danger to yourself or us, this will be your last mission. Understood?"

Nodding fervently, Charles vowed, "Understood." He broke out into a wide smile and threw his arms around her, breathing, "Thank you, Mom. I promise you won't regret it."

Instantly melting at that, Anna hugged him back just as tightly as she smirked, "I'd better not. Why I am so surprised that you're pulling this is beyond me since you have been a handful from the day I gave birth to you." She retracted to grip his shoulders and rest their foreheads together. "You know that I only worry because I love you, right?"

"Of course, Ma," the young Infected replied sincerely, smiling. He pecked her cheek to seal his comprehension. "I love you, too," he grinned as he straightened himself again.

Resting her hands on her hips, the Siren chuckled, "Good. Then the first order of business you'll have to see to is lightening the load you packed to about half of what you have there. We have to pack light and travel fast, so only the absolute necessities for this trip. As for weapons, pick only a couple of go-tos that you are the most proficient with."

Clearly thrilled to be taken seriously, Charles scooped up the four duffel bags that he had added to the pile at the center of the living room and yelled brightly, "Got it!" Off in a blur of himself, he left his amused guardians behind to snicker and shake their heads in his wake.

Her confidence fleeing, Anna rubbed her arm anxiously and her gaze lowered back to the floor. "It'll be fine, sis," Duo reassured. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his side, he grinned, "You and I will take out the Rogue before he can get involved or into any trouble. If there's any mission for him to get his feet wet, this will be the one."

"Yea," the redheaded immortal murmured. "As much as I hate to admit it, you're both right. No better time for the kids to see first-hand what is really out there. I just don't have to be thrilled over the idea of one of my babies coming face-to-face with a Rogue."

Wufei offered, "Think of this as some good bonding time." The corner of his mouth curling up at his wife's snort over his attempt to lighten the mood, he shifted gears to the heart of the matter where he was concerned. "Nothing like seeing for himself to let Charles know exactly why we have been hesitant to let him and the others join us on a hunt."

Her eyebrows shooting upward, Anna blinked widely. "Never looked at it that way," she giggled. "It's definitely one way to open his eyes to how serious these existence or death situations are." Peering into her brother's violet-and-silver irises, she smiled, "We've got this."

"Damn right we do," Maxwell snickered, squeezing her against him again.

The front door opened and closed in a flash when Heero, Trowa and Midi suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. Each Infected wearing relief and elation, the trio looked anxiously to one another to see who would speak first. "We have a bit of news to announce," Barton spoke up to his curious cousins. "We know where we are going to be moving."

Caught completely off guard by that bit of information, Duo and his siblings gaped as their eyes grew. "O-oh?" he sputtered. He shook his braided head, frowning, "I thought that we were all going to sit and discuss that as a family when Anna and I got back before we settled on a place."

Heero smirked, setting a hand on his Companion's shoulder as he responded, "There was no need. We have all been so distracted by the mission that we missed a message from Quatre that we did not need to worry about a home. Once I looked back to find that text, we called to learn that our cluster of mansions in Virginia had been paid in full by Treize and his Clan after our last move in case we ever wanted to return one day."

Gasping, Anna gripped onto her equally stunned husband's arm. "They really did that for us?" she breathed. Midi's own eyes misted over along with the redhead's as she nodded excitedly. Unable to trust her voice, however, the 'little mother' sniffled and threw herself around her cousins.

"Thank God for them," Chang whispered, a slight hitch in his voice and a hand patting the Latin Infected's back. "It would have been nearly impossible to find another hidden corner like that one."

Not holding back in his wide smile, Duo shouted, "This is awesome! So once we wrap up this case, we can seal the move and have the worst of this whole mess behind us regardless of whatever in the Capital!" His own words setting in, the Hybrid slapped a hand over his mouth while tears began to sting his eyes.

Everything was going to be okay. The Clan would be able to stay together and safe once the registry was updated. All of the tensions and fears leading up to that late evening had finally been resolved. Finally, there was a light in the darkness that had settled over the family.

Overwhelmed, Maxwell initiated a group embrace where all of the immortals clung onto each other to silently cry.

"I love you all... so damned much," Anna whimpered once she was able to compose herself enough to speak. Giggling through her sobs, she freed a hand from Heero to roughly rub at her eyes as she snickered brokenly, "Even if you are all a bunch of damned fools for risking sticking this out for Wufei, me and our kids."

Soft laughter from her family rose up and the tight knot of limbs loosened enough for the lot to dry their eyes.

Yuy cleared his throat and sighed as he rubbed his hands together. "Alright, so the plan of attack," he began as everyone turned to face him, "Wufei will continue in his work while Trowa and I step in to keep up on the kids' classes and training. In the meantime, Midi and the older kids can get to work on getting the houses ready for the actual move. They have just been sitting and waiting all of this time, so they are going to need a lot of care before they are livable again."

"Oh, I am ready for that challenge," the little mother giggled. "Cleaning and arranging are only two of my favorite things to do. Those mansions will look like new by the time I'm finished with them." Trowa snickered as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her temple.

Duo smiled, "It's all settled, then. By the time Anna and I make quick work of this Rogue, we'll be back with Charles in plenty of time to help finish packing."

Hearing their nephew's name included as a part of the team, the unaware Vampires blinked in surprise, causing the Companion to wince and gesture to them at his sister's back by waving his hands and shaking his braided head frantically.

Fast to pick up on the message to not dwell on the topic, Heero told his lover, "Right. You best return to our house and armor up if you still plan on leaving by dawn."

Winking to his Vampire, the Hybrid gave a smart salute and a bright, "On it!" He walked around the redhead to peck her temple and exchange a high-five with her. "I'll be back to collect the two of you in a couple of hours, sis."

So distracted by all of the developments happening, the Irish Infected did not seem have processed the reminder about Charles... or she had simply accepted the arrangement enough to grin back at her little brother before he headed for the doorway.

With her own wheels turning with what lay ahead, Midi followed her cousin as she thought aloud, "I'll have to clear out the cleaning supply closet to assess if we need anything. We should have plenty of varnish and ammonia to handle most of the job since that will have to come first. Then we'll tackle the painting touch ups and..." Her voice trailed off as she disappeared from sight with her smirking husband in tow.

Hugging his wife, Wufei said, "I better get back to coding while there is time before Duo comes back. I'll get the kids up so that we can see you off." Anna nodded against his chest, keeping her head lowered a bit when he had to walk away.

At the scaly Vampire's departure, only the blood siblings remained in the living room. Their blue-and-gold gazes locking, Heero's lips tugged into a warm grin as he closed the gap to hold his sister close without a word. Melting against him, the Siren closed her eyes and sighed deeply when a strong hand rubbed her back.

Theirs was nothing like the relationships that either Infected shared with their significant others.

However, their own connection was something that had been forged early on to make them just as vital in each other's existences.

In the end, no one really knew Heero like Anna and it was the same the other way around. They knew when one was hurting before any one else had an inkling.

And they also understood what their dear sibling needed for comfort without needing to ask.

For this round, Yuy was well in tune to the fact that Anna was hurting over Charles's joining the hunt. But she did not need to talk about it. She just needed to have someone hold her and to hear his whispered, "You're doing the right thing."

The dampening of his shoulder where her head was pressed against was all the testimony he needed to realize he had been right in how he helped her cope.

Slowly reeling back, the Original cupped his creation's cheeks in his hands and smiled, "Better?"

"Much," Anna giggled as her brother brushed away the last of her tears with the pad of his thumb. "Thank you," she breathed.

Pressing and holding a kiss to the Irish Vampire's forehead, Heero told her softly, "You know... you're still always one of my happy thoughts every day."

It had been a little game of theirs since they had come to share their existences, one of a similar nature to the one played with Fiona to open her up by asking her what the highlight of her day was to open her up. Whenever asked, their answer was always their counterpart.

Anna swallowed down the lump in her throat, murmuring in kind, "You're still mine, too, Heero. Always will be." Smirking, she added, "Just another day us going up against the world together." Humming an affirmative, her creator nodded.

Her resolve returning, the redhead straightened herself with a puff of air through her parting lips that blew through her bangs. "Well, I better finish getting ready," she shrugged. "I appreciate the talk, brother."

"Don't mention it," Yuy replied, smirking. Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he concluded, "See you soon." He turned away to step out before his already growing sadness over their upcoming separation got the better of him.

Watching him slip out of the room, Anna's own smile dampened. Much as she wished she did not have to leave, there was a mission and innocent lives to take into consideration ahead of anything else. Set to her task, she moved to the stairs for her final preparations.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Doctor Berg left the cafeteria wearing a particularly pleased grin on his face.

When she finally reemerged from her quarters to catch it, Lucie stopped to greet him in her passing. "You look like the cat that got the cream," she commented, a bemused tone to match the smile of her own.

Broken from his thoughts to come to an abrupt halt, the tall scientist spun around to notice his friend. Embarrassed by his startle, he rested a hand on his chest, snickering, "My dear, you nearly made me jump out of my skin, I was so distracted, as I am always happiest when I have work to return to in my lab."

Always working. But on what, Aisley was determined to eventually find out.

Opting for a direct approach to her answers, the Hunter said sweetly, "One of these days I will have to take the time to visit that lab of yours to see just what it is that keeps you so busy. If you are this occupied when we do not even have that Hybrid for you to study, I can only imagine how taxed our time will be when he is captured."

Berg wiggled a hand in the air as he laughed, "Ah, top secret stuff. You are more than entitled to find out, if you are that determined to know. However, I am afraid that I would have to kill you if you did."

Containing her reaction as a fit of laughter to echo the old man's, Lucie could feel her heart freezing. To any one else, they would have taken the sentiment as the light-hearted joke that he wanted it to seem to be on the surface. But then, the young woman always did have a knack for seeing things beyond their surface appearance.

What had been offered as a humorous anecdote was in fact a very real threat.

Suddenly, that disarming smile and deep chuckle took a very a chilling revelation. Not one working for Septum could say for certain what it was the doctor had been brought on to do during what should have been his down time in wait for his specimen. Not a soul was clued into what Berg was capable of if he should ever be displeased.

It was the first time in their nearly two years of knowing each other that Lucie could ever recall feeling uncomfortable of the old man. Only it was more than discomfort... she was outright afraid of that side of him that he never brought to light.

Keeping all of that to herself, Lucie curtsied as she giggled, "Well, I always have fancied my life so I will leave it at that." Even if she wished to press the subject, the watch on her friend's wrist beeped shrilly to call for his attention.

"Ah. Back to the lair," Doctor Berg said as he addressed the dial to silence the alarm. Tilting his head, he suggested, "Perhaps we can meet for dinner later this evening? I am free for an hour starting at six. We do have so much to catch up on regarding your hunt."

Lucie's initial reaction was to be as far away from him as she could manage, but she was not about to allow their camaraderie be in question because of her keen observational skills. She was still safe with him. It was the Hybrid who would be the one to fear whatever was in store for him when the scientist had him in his grasp.

Beaming, the beauty told him earnestly, "That would be wonderful. Six o'clock, then." That pleased grin returned to the old man's face as he bowed deeply in appreciation before he hurried off at a brisk pace.

Sure to stay put as she watched him disappear around the corner of the lower level, Aisley made sure to tread a little more cautiously around Berg. But she was not at all deterred from wanting to know what it was he was doing in that lab of his...

...if anything, that little warning only intrigued her all the more.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Charles had been to many farewells that separated him from his mother, father and uncles in the past. But then he was one of the Vampires staying behind. Now, on the other side of the fence, he looked on as the rest of the family hugged and kissed the two Agents assigned to this new mission.

With Rosie hanging onto her neck, Anna saw to every one of her tearful little ones. Keeping a bright smile and a promise to return soon, she wiped at their dampened cheeks and never lost her brave face while Duo traded embraces and well wishes with the Bartons.

"Good luck, brother," Isabel muttered as she neared her twin. "Don't go getting yourself killed out there."

John snorted, "Yea, or any other stupid thing that will ruin this for the rest of us." Smirking, he added, "Remember that there are others back home who would love the same opportunity you're getting." Chuckling, the Preventer-in-training and his siblings passed around one-armed hugs.

Carefully lowering Rosie back to her feet, Anna and Duo moved to their lovers as the last ones to say their goodbyes to. Pulling his wife into his arms as she hooked her legs around his waist, Wufei leaned in for a passionate kiss. Heero latched onto his Companion for the same, making sure that his unspoken adoration was understood loud and clear.

Reluctantly breaking away, the couples shifted so that the brothers and sisters could offer what support they could to each other, the assigned agents assuring that they would look after the others' spouses.

Gulping as the emotions around the scene caught up with him, Charles gripped onto the strap of his duffel bag hanging from his shoulder. Only now did he really come to know what it was like being on the other side of the fence... the wondering if there would ever be a return to the warm and comforting faces and people that made up their existences.

Yuy lowered his hands from Anna's face to close the distance between himself and his nephew. Pulling the redheaded Infected close by the back of his neck, the Original urged quietly by his ear, "You mind your mother out there, Charles. She's one of the best for you to learn from in the field."

Nodding, the other Vampire replied, "G-got it, Uncle Heero."

Wufei stepped in when the two stepped apart. His scaly arms tugging his son close, he said sternly, "Keep your head and stick to what you picked up in your training. Listen to everything your Mom and Uncle Duo tell you. Follow their orders to the letter." Cupping the physically older young man, he grinned, "Lastly, don't make me regret this."

"Right," Charles responded almost timidly. "Thanks, Dad."

From the middle of the dirt road, Anna called, "Ready, son?" Standing beside her with his arms folded across his chest, Duo raised an eyebrow as an anticipating smirk tugged the corner of his mouth.

Still reeling from the very different sensations coming over him with taking this leave, Charles faced them and rolled his shoulders back. "Yea," he responded, jogging up to join them. "Ready."

Resigned to the cause, his mentors disappeared in blurs of themselves with him following close behind.

TBC...

 

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